Control mechanism



Feb. E3, 1945. v, F. zAHoDlAKlN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1942 INI:

uur... wwrfi QN Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE 2,369,514 CoNTRor. MECHANIsM Victor F. ,Zahodiakm Short'Hlls, N. Jr i Appiication April 2s, 1942, serial No. 440,782

(ci. `'1i-5.69)

1 Claim.

' This invention relates to improvements in Control mechanisms, and'more particularly to an apparatus for controlling movement of a reciprocabley member, such as Imachine gun triggers or the like, `and is an improvement upon my prior application S. N. 382,127, filed Marchl, 1941.

Objects Among the principal 'objects which the present `invention has in view are: to'providean improved control mechanism to rfunction as an interceptor vor'stop for a reciprocablemember; to provide suchV a 'stop in conjunction with `a Aconstant :stroke-'actuating prime `mover without stopping the'prime mover;4 tojassure prompt and eiective 'stopping of the -reciprocation of thereciprocablememberas desired; to denitely clear thereciprocable lmember from engagement with the prime mover 'when vthe reciprocable vmember is caused to stop reciprocating; to transfer clearance Aavaila'blefor introducing the interceptor to function 'as the clearance for the prime mover; to entirely retract the interceptor from the path of movement of the reciprocable member while said member'isreciprocating; to vprovide a brief dwell of interceptor lwith clearance between the stop :and reciprocable member before transfer of the clearance tothe relation of said member to the `prime member; vto precede the rotary and s'lidable movement "with a non-rotating slidabie movement of the interceptor or stop; to provide simple and eiective means for performing the sliding movement of the interceptor or stop; to employ a 'solenoid for effecting `said movements; to translate the sliding moment of force of the solenoid into the desired sliding movement for the desired portioniof Astroke yof the interceptory to provide the interceptor with means whereby-frictional engagement of the vsame will be greatly minimized; to, provide means to prevent rotating the interceptor during operation; to keep the interceptor out of contact or frictional engagement with the `body portion `of the housing; to providethe interceptor vwith a roller centrally thereof land in engagement with a hard metalwall in. the=central bore ofthe 'housingg't'o obtain simple voperation and construction; and to Vobtain 'other advantages and Yresults as may bebrought outin the qfollowing description.

.Drawing 'Figure 1 is 'a longitudinal vertical sectional view of afcontrol mechanism embodying my invention, showing 'the interceptor in its unlocked position;

' Figure 2 is a fragmentary'iorizontal'ssectional view showing the interceptor in top plan-fandin its unlocked relation as infFigur'e 1';

Figure -3 is a"fragmentaryv horizontal sectional view similar lto `'Figure -2 `showing the interceptor in 'its entering position with respect to the lree ciprocable member;

lFig-ure 4 is a sectional 'view ysimilar"to'lig-ure 3, lshowing the interceptor in 'locked position; and

Figures 5 and are sectional elevations Vof the reciprocable member showing 'itsrelationship ton the `prinrie'mm/r-:r and -to the *shouldered portions of the interceptor.

Description 'There 'ii re often instances Aor"reciprocationffia member 'wherein it is desired I'to' interrupt or :stop the stroke of reciprocation of such member. @ne such instance is in connection vwith the trigger or tripping mechanism'oi machmeguns'and the present' invention relates-generically "to th'epontrolA mechanism applicable toany ofthe lnumerous apparatuses wherea control-of the'istroke ris desired. The present invention inneres in ,parts associated with a reciprocable member byv which the'member is susceptible to being stopped and with which is' associated mechanism lfor interceptin'g or stopping 'such'stroke Such embodiment is illustrated more particularly in Figures 1 to `6 in `which reference numeral l5 designates in general a reciprocable 'i'.fiember. 'The vvupper and lower end portions of lsaid member are shown as 'aligned cylinders roi-rods 1G and Il integrally connected by an intervening yoke portion 1B.

f The reciprocable member is'carried iin a suitable housing-appropriately shaped to 'provide an upper bearing portion I9 for the upper 'rodi portion |"6 or the reciprocablemember anda lower-bearing portionv 20 yforthe lower end portion vIl of. said member. "The member is permitted to have a reciprocation within said bearings, but is ,pre-

vented 'from rotating by'suitable "meansv such as key-Way 2l l:situated vlongitudinally of the lower rod-portion I1 engaging .a corresponding longitudinal spline 2.2 'inthe housing. LThe upper end ofthe reciprocable member .l 5 is shown connected by a lwire or other connecting means 23, which is preferably flexible, tn the particularv device rvto which controlled vreciprocation isfto :be applied. A spring 24 is diagrammatically shown inconvnection with v"said connecting vmeans A23 which tends Vto actuate the reciprocable member at Lall times towards the uppervend of its stroke. vvThe sp1-ing is `to be'understood 'as :any-:tensioning means veither linc'orporated in `'direct association' with the connection 23 or forming part of the apparatus to which the control mechanism of the present invention is applied.

In association with the reciprocal member I5 is a prime mover 25, here shown as a constantly rotating shaft transverse to the reciprocable member I5 and projecting through the yoke I8 thereof. Fast upon this shaft 25 is a cam 26 situated adjacent to said yoke I8 and rotatable in a plane parallel to said yoke. The said shaft and cam are constantly rotating under influence of suitable motivating means (not shown), such as an electric or other motor while the associated apparatus is in use. At the front of the yoke in a plane common to the plane of the earn is a roller 21 carried by a suitable bearingor stud 28 from the reciprocable member. At such time as said reciprocable member is free to respond to the tensioning of spring 24, the said roller 21 is drawn into peripheral vcontact with the periphery ofcam 26. Consequently, as said cam rotates the reciprocable member will move upwardly under iniluence of the spring as the cam rotates to present its portion of diminishing diameter to the, roller. As the cam proceeds to present its periphery ofincreasing diameter to the roller, the said member I5 is thereby depressed. The rotary action of said shaft and cam in conjunction withv spring 24 will accordingly impart a reciprocating movement to reciproeable member I5 and as so far described, such reciprocation is for the full stroke which the cam is designed to impart, and with the roller in constant engagement with the cam.

In the upper rod portion I B'of the reciprocable member is provided a means for intercepting or stopping reciprocation of the said member I5 notwithstanding the continued and constant rotation of the prime mover. The means here shown contemplates thevintroduction of an interceptor or stop 29 as a limiting factor which is interposed in the path of movement of the reciprocable member. The specic limiting facto-r or interceptor here shown is the end of a boltlike slidable non-rotatable member 29 transverse to the reciprocable member I5. While the boltlike interceptor 29 is generally cylindrical, its end portion next the reciprocable member I5 has a plurality of upper and lower flattened areas which, as shown, are horizontal and at the top and bottom of the interceptor. The over-all dimension of each attened area in a direction long'itudinal of the interceptor is preferably substantially equal to the length of the stroke of the interceptor, and is shown as providing a forward stepped portion 30 somewhat deeper in a direction toward the axis of the interceptor than a rear step 30', the riser between steps having -a slope rearwardly outward. The reciprocab'le member I5 is recessed or notched, as at 3 I on its side toward the interceptor. The depth of the notch ina radial direction of the reciprocable member is also substantially equal to the length of stroke of the interceptor, and itsdimension longitudinally of said reciprocable member is substantially equal to the full diameter of the interceptor. Accordingly, as can be best` seen in Figures 1,3 and 4, as the reciprocable member assumes a position with its notch 3| opposite to or in registration with its interceptor, the flattened areas 30 and 30 vthereof aifords a clearance 32` vfor easy entry ofy the interceptor end into the notch. ..,f j I .,ITheinterceptoris -rnovabIy mounted in a lateral. extension 33 ofthe housing, andis controlled III) in its character of movement by a fixed stud 3l mounted in said housing. The stud is transverse to the interceptor, preferably extending upwardly with its upper end engaging against a cut-out flattened surface portion 35 at the bottom of the stud lengthwise thereof. At the forward and rear ends of the flattened portion 35 the interceptor resumes full diametrical character thus-providing projections at the ends of the flattened portion which constitute stops 36, 36 determining the amplitude of reciprocation of the interceptor. Movement of the interceptor by Virtue of the flattened lsurface portion 35 engaging the stud, will be strictly a straight longitudinal sliding motion,

without rotation permitted; whereby the flattened areas 30 and 30' at the forward end of said interceptor likewise move without turning, into the notch '3|l of the reciprocable member. Thus I take advantage of the clearance afforded by attening the forward end portions of the interceptor to assure easy insertion thereof into the reciprocable member.

It is a feature of the present invention to prevent undue wear in the interceptor 29 resultant from lateral thrust or pressure exerted thereagainst both by Ystud 34 and by reciprocable member I5. As shown, the portion of the bore of lateral extension 33 containing the interceptor is provided with a hardened sleeve or bushing 31, preferably of tempered steel. The central passage through this bushing is shown as substantially ttng the contained portion of the interceptor` throughout the side areas of the said interceptor.

At opposite ends of the flattened surface portion 35 of the interceptor and'rotatable in a common plane perpendicular with respect to said ilattened portion, are two rollers 38, 38. These rollers are each within a vertical diametric slot 39 through the interceptor and protrude above and below the interceptor surface so as to substantially engage at opposite top and bottom ends of vertical diameters through said rollers against the inside surface of the bore of the bushing. Cutting of the slots 39 diametrically through thecylindrical interceptor chordally lessens the thickness of the interceptor from top to bottom thereat, and these lessened thicknesses at the slots extend oppositelyv from flattened surface portion 35 and cooperate therewith to depress the top and bottom surfaces of the interceptor for the full length thereof which travels within the bushing 31 so that all lateral thrust imparted to or by the interceptor in a direction parallel to the movement of the reciprocable member I6 will be transmitted between the interceptor and the bushing through the intervention of the rollers. Suitable pins 4I are inserted through the interceptor diametrically thereof and at the center of the rollers for rotatably mounting said rollers with respect to the interceptor. It is to be understood that said rollers 38, 38 have just s'uiicient clearance within the bushing to permit said rollers to rotate in contact with the bushing at one, side of the interceptor only, but the direction of thrust determines at which side the rolling engagement occurs. The rollers are preferably of a hardened metal, such as tempered steel, and` as they roll upon similar metal comprising the bushing 31, the wear between those parts will be innitesimal over a long period of time.

The interceptor extends rearwardly a considerablev distance in the housing extension 33 and is axially coincident with a solenoid coil 42 mounted therearo-und and supported from said housing extension. A tubular soft-iron or other core 43 is shown carried upon the interceptor to move therewith. Influence of the solenoid coil,

when energized, is to retract the interceptor. The outer end of the solenoid is provided With a head or cap 44 which retains a fixed position and forms a suitable support and guide for the protruding outer end of the interceptor. Between this cap and a suitable shoulder 45 on the interceptor is a compression spring '36 which functions yto slide the interceptor inwardly toward the reciprocable member. Accordingly, when the solenoid coil is not electrically excited, the spring functions to slide the interceptor and introduce the forward end offsaid interceptor into the notch 3l the iirst time the notch registers with the interceptor. Promp-t interception and Stopping of the reciprocation of the reciprocable member is thus obtained upon opening of the electric circuit to the solenoid or upon discontinuance of the exciting current.

In event of failure of the electric circuit or if preferred to operate the retraction of the interceptor by manual means, suitable connection 4l may be made for that purpose. As here shown, said connection is in the form of a wire fastened by means of a lost-motion attachment to and extending from the rearmost end of the interceptor outward through a collar-like housing 48 on the outer end of cap M. As shown, said Wire or connection il passes through and is gripped by a contracting nut 49 screwed intol a threaded bushing 5U which in turn is slidable within the end of the collar-like housing d8 and is slid inward by a compression spring 5|,

I now wish to emphasize that while the prime mover is functioning to reciprocate the reciprocable member, that is to say, while the interceptor is retracted from engagement within the view of the clearance 32 provided when the parts are as just described, there is no diiculty for the interceptor to engage Within the notch practically immediately upon its release by the solenoid. The stepped construction of the iiattened end of the interceptor assures introduction of the interceptor into the notch and obtains adequate holding depression of the reciprocable member as the more shallowstep 30 rides into depressing and holding position.

I claim: l'

A control mechanism comprising a housing, a reciprocable member slidable in said housing and held therein against lateral displacement, said member having a notch therein at one side thereof, an intercep-to-r in said housing transverse to said reciprocable member and longitudinally slidable in said housing toward and from said reciprocable member within the range of reciprocation of said notch, said interceptor having its top and bottom margins next one end of the interceptor toward the notch provided with successive iiat steps transverse to the reciprocable member and providing clearance for entrance into the notch and flat surface engagement therewith, the step nearest the end of the interceptor providing greater entrance clearance into said notch than the next step, and the last step entering the notch With full stroke of the interceptor being at a level beyond the normal stroke of the engaged wall of the notch thereby positioning said reciprocable member beyond its normal stroke and stopping reciprocable actuation thereof, said end margins having sloping risers between steps for obtaining transitional engagement of vsuccessive steps with the notch wall, a hardened bushing in said housing girdling said interceptor and receiving the lateral thrust from the interceptor imparted thereto by the reciprocable member as the interceptor is positioned in-said notch and the steps engage the wall thereofl rollers mounted in said interceptor spaced apart longitudinally of the interceptor and protruding from the same sides of the interceptor which have said steps, said rollers riding in contact with said bushing, said interceptor having a flattened area for a part of its length between said rollers, and a flat headed Stud in said housing perpendicular to said flattened area of the interceptor and having the flat part of said head in slidable engagement with said fiattened area of the interceptor whereby the interceptor is prevented from rotating and thrust imparted by said stud is counteracted by rollers at opposite sides thereof.

VICTOR F. ZAHODIAKIN. 

